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** $ 639,616.48 contributed to FAT CAT Contributors #4 Final |
Bob Martin, President - Homeowner Taxpayer Association *** Energy Guzzlers rewarded with Super Low Power Rates *** SKYROCKETING ELECTRIC BILLS City Council approved CPS Energy rate hikes in 2008 and 2009. Now CPS is asking council to hike residential rates by 5% every other year for ten years to expand the South Texas Project (STP). In addition, ratepayers will be forced to bear the risk of even higher rates to pay for likely cost overruns. More rate hikes will hurt our seniors on fixed income and citizens already struggling to pay high energy bills. This past July, 82-year-old twin sisters on fixed income tragically died in their home from the heat. While they had an air conditioner, they did not to turn it on. CPS officials say the multi-billion dollar STP expansion is needed to meet future demand. So where is this demand coming from? According to CPS, it’s mostly because of increased residential usage. However, they may have overlooked the impact of data centers on our local power grid. DATA CENTERS A data center is a large storage facility for computer data. Located within the facility are thousands of computer servers. There are four large Offering discounted energy rates and tax incentives, city leaders have been successful at convincing data centers to locate in We asked CPS officials about the rate paid by these large industrial customers. They didn’t know but thought it was less than residential users (see htasa.org video). We estimate data centers pay about one-half the rate paid by residential users. If current growth continues, data centers alone could consume the power of a STP generator. RECOMMENDATION City Council should consider ending policies granting data centers tax abatements and low power rates. This would lower demand thereby reducing the need for future increases in generating capacity. Unlike Here is the link to city council phone numbers and email addresses : It's time to fight back! |
Events: YOU are invited ! Data Centers "slurp" huge amounts of electricity subsidized by rate payers !
5/21/09 COPS Metro & the GIVEAWAY
5/21/09 CPS STEP Politicized
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